Los Angeles daily herald., 1887-05-25
FRUITS AND PRODUCE.
Can They BE successfully sos"
AT AUctiOmy

at AuctlOhT
We have more than once referred TO
proiect for the establishment OF an auc-
ton house on the west side OF town, Tor
the sale of fruits, dairy and farm pro-
ducts. It is understood that such an
enterprise has bsen incorporated by a
syndicate of dealers in the above COM
modities. some of whom are respectable
and substantial mercL ants, and tnat IL
will open out for busines. without delay.
If this undertaking caG justify the
hopes of its promoters and achieve sue
cess as useful, we'll managed and per-
manent ms itution, it will well deserve,
and doubtless will receive cordial wei
come from the mercantile community
But similar schemes have been tried IN
New York, with unsatisfactoryresultsaud
surely no sensible person will accuse us
of attempting to disparage or discourage
commercial enterprise, ii we briefly
glance over the field and frankly poin!
out some of the obstacles and difficulties
which will apparently beset an effort te
establish Fruit and Produce Auction
house in New York, at the present
time.
The building of successful auction
house requires the seasoning and ripen.
ing of time. 1t takes years of labor and
upright dealing to secure the confidence
of consignors and buyers, and it de
mands also specially trained faculties
and business ability of very high order
In the fruit traffic new auction house
must enter into sharp rivalry with the
leading and long established auction
house of Brown & Seccomb, which now
sells the entire Mediterranean fruit i'm
ports coming to New York, and large
proportion of the Florida, or domestic,
crop of oranges, etc. Their business
methods are crystalized into a system
which is the result of long, practical ex.
perience. They are widely known, and
their sales draw crowds of responsible
buyers.
In order successfully to handle the
oranges and other products OF Florida
and California, q new auction house
must first convince shippers that it can
profitably dispose of them, and it musi
also attract buyers and formulate such
business methods as will secure theil
confidence and patronage. Here are
two factors difficult to reconcile; to
secure consignments without buyiHl
patronage and to secure buyers without
attractive consignments to offer them
However, time and good management
might in measure overcome these dif-
ficulties.
In dairy products it would appear
that new auction house must conteno
with the exchanges in the sale OF graded
articles. Butter, cheese, eggs, lard. etc.
are there sold according to standard
and their ruling prices are widely
quoted. 1t is probable that only in
ferior lots would drift into an auction
room, and that such goods in the hands
of an auctioneer would hardly realize
the prices which reputable commission
merchant could obtain for them.
Many difficulties will suggest them
selves in proposing to sell peaches, Der
ries, fresh vegetables, etc by auction
In the first place, they must be disposed
of speedily after their arrival. 1t will
not do to hold over the receipts OF to
day for to.morrow's sale. The grea
bulk of this produce arrives here at sucf
unreasonable hours as to preclude th'
idea of selling it practically at auction
1t is, in fact, mainly distributed in thu
early hours Of the morning, and much o
it appears upon the breakfast table o.
the consumer on the day of its arrival.
1t might be suggested that such al
auction house, founded and supported
by few firms directly interested in it
line of traffic, should be prepared t.
contend with some special and peculiar
difficulties. For instance: if its facili
tiles were to be reserved only for city
receivers and denied to country growers
and shippers, the latter will be apt tt
view it with dislike and question 1T
sales and returns. 1t would be matter
of great regret if really worthy enter
prise of this kind, seeking to establish
itself by honorable methods, shoulC
incur the stigma OF being sort o
"Cheap John" outcome OF New Yori
"ring."
But, on the other hand, If all the ad-
vantages of such an institution b.
thrown freely open to producers ant
forwarders generally, will it not seri
ously interfere with the business OF 10
cal produce and fruit commission deal
ers? This is an important question To-
them to consider. 1t certainly seem
probable that fruit and produce auc
tion house, conducted on the above plan
would if it met with any measure o
success, defect consignments from thu
commission men and tend to rendel
them practically unnecessary.
Z These brief observations are respect
fully submitted to our readers as worthy
of consideration. We have merely
glanced at few points and there is {
great deal connected with the histor,
and character of the auction business
in this city, which is of interest. W.
shall hope to discuss the subject NOR.
extensively in future issues. IL N. Y